Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-09-23
IDAHO
AN AFRICAN QUEEN.
A aIssicnary's Account of the Female
ruler OF the savage Barotsc.


Ruler OF tho savage Barotsc.
The position Of women in Africa is
as degraded as in most other savage
lands and life is round of hard, unre-
outing toll to the weaker sex in near
" all parts Of the continent. Here and
there however is native Queen who
has absolute influence over hsr people
and who surrounds herself with as
much pomp and circumstance IS her
position permits Mr., Coillard. tho
French Protestant missionary. who
saved the life Of Serpa Pintoduring tho
travellers trip across the continent, has
sent home = few facts about pictur-
esque female who holds sway over the
SAVAGE Barotse on the upper Zanbcsi.
one day recently Queen Mokuae
went on IA excursion to the tombs OF
her fathers. She was expected TO re-
tara TO her chief town two or three
DAYS later, and on the appointed day
eyery body was slert TO hear the first
sound announcing the approach OF the
royal parfy. Suddenly the measured
beat Of drums was family heard. .'She
Is ccSniag. The Queen is coming"
The CRY went through the town. and
several Thousand men. women and chill
dren lined the bank Of the broad Zanl-
hesi and gnRad down the watery ex-
panse. The sound "a the drums grew
lanaer and soon the royal barge and
shr attending feet came into view.
Undcr pavilion Of gandilyeoiored
ratiye mats sal the Queeh. In full view
Of her subjects, Forty paddlers swift
h propelled her great canoe up the
ssream. As she came opposite the
town the wosnea and girls. who were
ranged in line on shore, began 10 in
tcae chant. wh'ch struck Mr.. Coll
lard rs FUN % weird beauy II recised
sise praises ~ q seen Maknae, AT last
the PROV of the Queens barge strnck
Tbs shore, and the crowd Of men who
lined the way from the rivers edge 10
the Queens manson. instantly
Dropped on their knees and began 10
clap their hands. keeping time TO the
beat Of the drums.
The Qaeen stepped out of her barge
She was in gala dress FIR the occasion.
Over her shoulders she were brightly
colored Indian robe Several strings
Of beads and ornaments of ivory en-
circled her neck. and large white
pearls were arranged with care In her
hair. She salntcd the white man with
a wave Of her hand. but appeared 10
pay no attention to her subjects. A
procession was instantly formed with
the native band Mt its head. The
musicians wore suspended from their
necks the instruments know "a serim-
has which are long gouris. on which
are strung cords OF different lengths
which give variety 81 sounds
when struck with drnmstieks.
As the procession started the
musicians struck up aud did
not cease playing until tbs Qneen with
drew into her apartments Behind the
band walked the q teen. and at con
siderable distance behind her the loyal
snite and the oarsmcn Of her fleet. As
they passed along the populaee fell in
TO line, and so the lung procession
marched until they reached the q ieen's
abode.
Then the master OF ceremonies
spread on the ground lions skin. on
which the Queen took her stand The
royal suite approached within about a
hundred feet. ranged themselves In line
before the Queen. lifted their hands to-
ward the sky. crying "Iochel Lochew
AID then Frustrated themselves in the
lust Next, the boatmen went through
the same ceremony, and then the pop
ulaee. In deiachmenis. paid their re-
spects 10 their ruler In the same
manner; after them the
visitor In the village. and
finally Mr. Coillard's own boatmen,
Then the Qneen disappeared within
her house. and soon after surrounded
by her young women. gave an audi
ence TO the white man.
She had wheezy accordion. over
whose keys she ran her fingers with
surprising agility, and she played a
curious medley Of savage airs. She
was very proud Of her musical accom-
plishments. which. however. did not
greatly impress her visitor. Mr.. Coill-
ard has been permitted to establish a
mission In this town. where, he says.
many picturesque scenes only serve TO
conceal all the horrors Of paganism
and the grosscst and most revolving
snpcrstitions. M L. SUa